On the game-winner, Carter was sprung by a leading pass from Marek Zidlicky, and he snapped a shot that eluded Halak.

Ovechkin opened the scoring 10:12 into the game with his 49th of the season. The sequence began with New Jersey defenseman Mark Fayne committing a defensive zone turnover. Nicklas Backstrom found the loose puck and moved it to Mikhail Grabovski, who passed it to Ovechkin for the quick shot.

The goal was Ovechkin's first even-strength point since Feb. 27.

That was all the Capitals would get, as Schneider turned them away at every opportunity.

Schneider stuffed Jason Chimera on a breakaway with 1:28 left in the first, and kept the puck out of the net during a second period flurry in which Julien Brouillette and Backstrom had chances from along the crease.

Ruutu drew New Jersey even with 7:39 left in the second with a redirection of Eric Gelinas' point shot. The goal was Ruutu's eighth of the season, and his third with the Devils following the March 5 trade from the Carolina Hurricanes.

Both the New Jersey and Washington power-play units were ineffective. The Devils were 0 for 5 and Washington finished 0 for 3.

New Jersey lost Patrik Elias in the first period after he was ridden into a stanchion by Washington's Tom Wilson. Elias, New Jersey's second-leading scorer with 51 points, skated seven shifts totaling 3:36.

Both teams have five games remaining this season, and essentially need to win out and hope Eastern Conference wild card-leading Detroit and Columbus and ninth-place Toronto lose their remaining games.

The Red Wings lead the Devils by four points, and the Blue Jackets are three ahead of New Jersey. Washington is another point back.